Amtrak Visioning to KO by 2035

In the recent Amtrak "visioning" expansion (amtrakconnectus.com) discussion , it shows new service to Ronkonkoma by 2035.

Amtrak cites most of expansion on the map came from existing studies (perhaps NYDOT?).

This is not the first time there has been discussion of Amtrak service to Long Island. Former US Senator Al "pothole" D'Amato advocated for service between Pt. Jeff and Albany during his tenure, but nothing came of it.

I heard of recent proposed service from Ronko (or Montauk) to DC about 2 or so years ago. A tri mode locomotive would be needed for diesel, third rail, and then overhead wire. This could be done via individual locomotives or multiple unit. I also think there's an old topic about this proposal buried in this forum from about early 2019.

Why KO? Is there that much of a need for Amtrak direct service from there? Even if they stop at Jamaica, is there a need?

This is a pipe dream abs absolutely financially foolish, but it’s to no surprise it’s being pushed by those in power.

If Amtrak would come to LIRR it’s benefit would provide the first class service to the Hampton’s Montauk, and possibly Greenport that the State decided LIRR must not be permitted to provide.

As for regular Amtrak services, explain how this would be benefiting anyone?
LIRR runs frequent enough services which anyone could take into Penn for a connection to Amtrak.

What would be beneficial and would
Pay for is self in dividends, would be the LIRR/NJT partner together purchase compatible equipment, and each contribute to a pool fleet, which would be used to operate through services between LI and NJ.
This would greatly free up track spade info Penn and ease up on the density of traffic though the bottle neck between Harold interlocking and Newark.

A concept like the M8s used by Metro north would satisfy the electric equipment requirements for this service,
And a locomotive using the concept of NJT’s ALP45DP wire/diesel for the diesel service portions.
Minimal infrastructure work would be needed, extend wire to the LIRRs woodside station so the dual modes can switch there not plugging Harold interlocking.

This is a common sense based operating plan not a political fantasy that benefits no one.

PS, protect trains at sunny side yard abs Westside yard would be capable of protecting a schedule in the event of a delay or other circumstance requiring the through service equipment to be canceled while either on LI or in NJ.

My guess is that no Amtrak service is going to come to Long Island. Just another pipe dream like so many other ideas........

On second thought, Ronkonkoma to DC could be done with a "bi-mode" (overhead wires to third rail) locomotives and multiple units. Some of which already exists, especially in the New York region, and has even tested on Long Island before. Even if it was only for a third rail testing, it can still become familiar with the electric territory to Ronkonkoma.

Is the Long Island route for the NEC alternative still in play?

Also, isn't there an old topic about this in the LIRR forum?

crabman1130 wrote: Why KO? Is there that much of a need for Amtrak direct service from there? Even if they stop at Jamaica, is there a need?

Would MacArthur Airport have something to do with it ?

Could any Amrak demand on LI be satisfied by through-ticketing?

newkirk wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 5:39 pm

crabman1130 wrote: Why KO? Is there that much of a need for Amtrak direct service from there? Even if they stop at Jamaica, is there a need?

Would MacArthur Airport have something to do with it ?

BM: Could be...The MTA had formulated an early 1970s (thereabouts) plan to electrify the Ronkonkoma
Branch along with the Main Terminal at ISP being moved to the northwest corner of the Airport to offer direct
connections to the LIRR there. Over time the main terminal at MacArthur at the south end of the Airport has
been expanded by the Town of Islip (operates ISP) as air service has grown...and the direct connection to the
LIRR was never built...MACTRAXX

BM6569 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 1:35 pm Is the Long Island route for the NEC alternative still in play?

Also, isn't there an old topic about this in the LIRR forum?

BM: There is a previous discussion elsewhere about this same subject about Amtrak service to LI...

The problem that I will address if Amtrak establishes a Ronkonkoma-terminating service is the track capacity
in the Ronkonkoma Station itself - I think that the station should have been constructed with three tracks in a
way similar to Babylon and Hicksville to not only allow more convenient transfers - this would allow added
service to use the station without compromising the core LIRR commuter operations out of Ronkonkoma.

With the added track capacity of the new Mid-Suffolk Yard Facility Amtrak can be reasonably accommodated.
The problem would be tying up one of the two station tracks for Amtrak boarding - if this causes problems with
LIRR trains arriving and/or leaving Ronkonkoma there will be a loud and clear backlash from commuters.

Adding a third track today would be an expensive undertaking - with modification or even outright removal of
Platform C on the south side required along with stair case and paralleling roadway modifications.

The other (and more practical service option) would be Montauk Branch service to the East End/Hamptons
resort area that would serve these stations: Babylon (comparable to Croton-Harmon on the Hudson Line in
terms of distance from Manhattan and the end of electrified territory and frequent intermediate service).
Patchogue (largest South Shore village in Suffolk County-offers more intermediate LIRR connections).
Westhampton, Southampton and East Hampton (most important "Hamptons" LIRR stations) and Montauk.
These stations served are far enough apart from each other making this service a good alternative to the HJ
competition - and the traffic using NYS 27 - for Amtrak working along with the LIRR to consider.

Will Amtrak ever directly serve Long Island? Only time will tell if something can be worked out...MACTRAXX

Wonder what happened to just walking upstairs at Penn to catch Amtrak or NJT.
Wonder also what the post-COVID budgets will do to this.

"Customers can walk between Moynihan Train Hall and New York Penn Station on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) concourse level through the Moynihan Lower Concourse." Are the LIRR ticket counters in Moynihan open yet? Stairs from the LIRR platforms to Moynihan?

Only NJT and passenger's legs got trounced in the deal. Looks like NJ's governor really should not have diverted that tunnel money to highways in 2010, though I can understand his suspicion about cost control. Handling that head-on would have been better.

Will Amtrak ever directly serve Long Island? Only time will tell if something can be worked out...MACTRAXX

Originally, Amtrak was looking to bypass southern Conn with a LI path to RI via a tunnel or bridge thru Plum Island.

Amtrak has been allocated 500,000 to study extending three North East Regionals from DC to Ronkonkoma.